"Yan Zhao." Xue Zi Ning looked at the person before her, the one she had longed for day and night.
"A Ning, if you keep looking at me like this, I might not be able to remain rational."
"Then don't be rational." She simply didn't want to let go.
He was slightly stunned, then smiled, holding her in his arms. She rested her head against his chest. "Yan Zhao, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?"
After a long while, she heard his voice, "Yes."
He waited for a long time but received no reply from A Ning. He looked down and smiled helplessly. This tormenting A Ning had fallen asleep.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "You little enchantress."
After tucking her in, he got out of bed and walked out of the sleeping quarters.
Xue Yan hurried over and was also surprised to see him. "Your Highness, you are here."
He nodded. "Has anything happened recently?"
Xue Yan replied, "Everything is very peaceful."
"Take good care of your Empress. I shall take my leave now."
Xue Yan bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
A breeze passed, and Xue Yan knew that the Crown Prince had left.
An Ling, standing behind Xue Yan, looked in astonishment at the man who resembled an immortal. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xue Yan, who is that?"
Xue Yan turned to look at her and said faintly, "That is the Crown Prince of Xue Country, your Empress's future husband."
An Ling, after her initial amazement, regained her composure. "He is indeed as stunning as the rumors say. Only our Empress is worthy of such an ethereal being."
Xue Yan replied, "A match made in heaven."
An Ling nodded, then asked, "Sister Xue Yan, is there anything else I need to do?"
"You may go back and rest. Tomorrow, go to Palace Governor Li for your lessons," Xue Yan said.
An Ling nodded and left.
Although she was dazzled by the Crown Prince of Xue Country, she knew he was someone she could never be worthy of, even from her toes.
Returning to her room, she was about to extinguish the lamp and rest when she suddenly saw a slip of paper on the table with only a few words on it.
"The old madam is in my hands. Aunt Yue."
An Ling trembled all over. She bit her lower lip, and after a long moment, she put on her clothes and walked out.
Because she had her palace pass, she easily left the palace. Half an hour later, she stood before the gate of the An manor. Suddenly, the gate opened.
She was startled. Standing at the entrance was none other than Aunt Yue.
"You've finally come," Aunt Yue said with a smile.
"Let my mother go," An Ling said coldly.
Aunt Yue chuckled softly at this. "Since you're home, won't you come in and sit in the manor?"
Saying this, she walked inside.
An Ling had no choice but to follow.
Aunt Yue walked towards the courtyard that belonged to her mother. An Ling quickly hurried to catch up.
Inside the room, a doctor was administering acupuncture to her mother. Startled, she rushed forward. "What are you doing?"
The doctor looked at her and said, "The madam has suffered a stroke. I am administering acupuncture to her."
An Ling let go of the doctor and looked at Aunt Yue coldly. "Would you be so kind?"
Aunt Yue walked out of the inner room to the outer room and gestured to a chair. "Sit."
"What exactly do you want to do?" An Ling asked Aunt Yue anxiously.
Aunt Yue smiled. "Second Miss, please sit."
An Ling had no choice but to sit down.
Aunt Yue slowly said, "You asked if I would be so kind? I tell you, I am not."
"You..." An Ling was about to get up.
Her shoulder suddenly felt heavy. Her heart jumped, and she looked up to see a masked man in black appearing behind her at some point.
"Nangong Yue, what exactly do you want to do?" An Ling asked word by word.
"Second Miss, as you can see, I had the doctor administer acupuncture to the old madam. If the treatments continue as scheduled, the old madam's stroke will be cured within a month."
An Ling looked at Nangong Yue. "What do you want me to do?"
Nangong Yue took out a small medicine bottle and said, "On the day of the Empress's wedding, you will administer this medicine."
An Ling trembled all over. "You... you want me to poison the Empress? Nangong Yue, you're crazy. But I'm not. If the Empress finds out, it's a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan. The An family will be executed."
Nangong Yue chuckled softly at this. "I can't worry about that. If you refuse to do it, who knows if the old madam will survive the night?"
"You... you are truly despicable..." An Ling said furiously, biting her lower lip.
"So, Second Miss, do you agree or not?" Nangong Yue asked.
An Ling's face turned somewhat pale. Suddenly, Nangong Yue spoke to the person behind her. "Chase the doctor away..."
The black-clad man was about to head towards the inner room. "No, don't go..."
An Ling pleaded.
"Then do you agree?" Nangong Yue stood up and placed the medicine in front of An Ling.
An Ling did not take it. Nangong Yue put down the medicine. "It's up to you whether you administer it or not. But if you don't, the old madam certainly won't survive. If you do, perhaps the Empress won't survive, and you'll still have a chance to live."
An Ling bit her lower lip and looked at Nangong Yue coldly. "Did you approach my elder brother intentionally?"
Nangong Yue chuckled softly at this, her smile somewhat cold. "You're smart."
"Nangong Yue, you've caused my elder brother to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, and my An family is in turmoil. What do you truly want?"
"Don't you know what I want now?"
An Ling trembled all over, disbelief in her eyes. "You... you want the Empress dead..."
"Clever. I, Nangong Yue, have only ever wanted the life of Xue Zi Ning."
"Debts must be paid, and grievances redressed. If you want her life, why harm my An family? What enmity do I, the An family, have with you?" An Ling cried out.
"There is no enmity and no grievance. It's simply because your elder brother was willing to believe me."
An Ling shook her head. She never imagined that the reason her An family had ended up in this state was merely because her elder brother was willing to be manipulated by Nangong Yue.
"Second Miss, you know everything now. Make your choice quickly!" Saying this, Nangong Yue left. As she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped. "If the Empress dies, perhaps your elder brother can also be released."
An Ling trembled all over and looked up at Nangong Yue.
Nangong Yue smiled and left.
An Ling slumped onto the ground, looking at the medicine on the table, at a loss.
Is poisoning the Empress the only path left?
She didn't know. She truly didn't know.
When Xue Zi Ning woke up, it was already broad daylight. She suddenly remembered that there was a court session today and quickly called out, "Xue Yan, Xue Yan..."
The door was pushed open, and Xue Yan entered, looking at her with a smile. "Your Majesty, you are finally awake."
"What time is it?" Xue Zi Ning asked urgently.
Xue Yan replied, "It's past the time for the morning court, in any case."
"Why didn't you wake me?" Xue Zi Ning asked, her teeth itching with anger.
Xue Yan smiled. "Lord Wen knew that Your Majesty had drunk too much last night, so he represented you at the morning court today."
Xue Zi Ning said, "Aren't those old fogeys angry?"
Xue Yan replied, "They are all eager for you to marry soon and produce an imperial prince."
"Has anything important happened?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Yan said, "There is news of Feng Wu."